Fiber composition and method of making the same



mwmwgg i-Hmemnce Search Boom is ziwsnsg name 1.25 7; 1-023 C. 1 UNIT], tem v rice FIBER COMPOSITION AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME Steven Wilson,Cleveland, Ohio, assignor, by direct and mesne assignments, ofthirty-seven and one-half per cent to Thurlow G. Gregory and twenty-fiveper cent to William J. 'Wesseler, East Cleveland, Ohio No Drawing.Application December 28, 1931,

Serial No. 582,885

5 Claims. (01 167-13) This application is a continuation in part offorth in detail one embodiment of the invention my application SerialNo. 387,264, filed August 20, and one method of producing the same, butsuch 1929. 4 v disclosed means and mode constitute, however, Thisinvention, as indicated, relates to a fiber but one of several ofvarious structural forms composition and method of making the same. andsteps in which the principle of the invention a More particularly thiscomposition comprises may be used. r f fibrous material such asdisintegrated or shred- The basic substance of the composition comded orground vegetable matter such as woods of prises vegetable or like fiberwhich may be in the y various character, corn cobs, straw, peanut hullsform of erial disintegrated in any desired and the like, or mineralfiber such as as stos manner such as by shredding, grinding,.or the mwhich has been combined with a binder in'sublike. The characterofthelfiitefial' m'ay be vagstantial amount, the binder having specialcharried. with the character of the product to be finacteristicshardening trfe'composition so that it ished and if a very finegrainedarticle is to be may be suitable for various uses. The composiproduced,it may be found desirable to have the tion may be substituted for hardrubber, bakelite, 1 material in the form of the finest flour indi P andlike compositions in mafif'c'a''e's'and m??? be 1 After the material isreduced to the desired de- -rolled-mto"fie"fs"8r pressed into anydesired greeof fineness, there is combined therewith a shape-Land maybeworked upon and .machined binder and such other material in the way oiI 'with'perfect freedom. It is adapted to receive germicidal ingredientswhich may be required screws and nails without splitting. It is alsopart for the particular article in view. Different kinds ofthe inventionto 'providethe composition with of bimieiamay be used to make thisgerm-killing .suitable germicidal ingredients whereby-[the substancesuch as sodium silica eiIi ished product will killgerms coming intocontact .glao, These binders, wever, tend to make the with the surfaceof such composition. '.It isparcompleted product too heavy. Thepreferred I ticularly adapted for certain uses-wherein the binderis,formed of dry animal glue to the utmost sanitary precautions must betaken, as in amount of 60% by weight of the total dry binder hospitalequipment and nurseries. As material ingredients and dry blchromate ofpotassium to for sanitary germ-destroying articles it may be the amountof 40% by weight of the total binder effectively utilized for telephonemouthpieces, ingredients exclusive of the water content. It is toiletseats, dental equipment, cuspidors and hoswell known that bichromate oipotassiumwhen pital equipment of all kinds, which has large used inrelatively small proportionsof from 2% j I w usage by different membersof the public, as it to 10% of the dry glue content will harden glue iwill retain its germ killing properties for a long by a tanning effect.It is a part of this inventime. The material is light in weight and istion, however, to use in the drycontent of the use relatively largeproportions of water and to sively used, as the binder will not then gointo subject the articles in course of manufacture to the fiber, due tothe hardening efiect that the high temperatures and this has made itimposbichromate of potassium has upon the glue. If sible to combine withthe material, germicidal used in the smaller proportions of 2% to 10% 5ingredients having relatively long continuing efof the dry glue asreferred to the fibers will not f t, upon superficial bacteria. With thepresent be effectively held together when made by this process all ofthe operations excepting the steps relatively dry cold process, 3involved in the original preparation of the binder When color andgermkilling material is to be are carried on as a cold process and arelatively added, it is desirable to mix the same thoroughly smallproportion of water is used. The germ into the fibrous material havingthe coloring 50 killing ingredients are inserted in substantially matterand the germ-killing material in dry form, dry form and thereby the fullstrength of the and in addition to color the binder. By usingsubstantially dry germ-destroying ingredients rethe germ-killingmaterial in dry or substantially ierred to is retained in the finishedproduct. dry} form, as indicated, such dry material be- In the followingdescription there will be set comes intermixed with the fibrous materialand 5:,

* ot readily frangible and is not cold to the touch a Wt dry bichromateof potassium to 35 1 as is glass and enamelware. Anadditional fea-' o ofdry glue as when used ln-that specific It 1 ture of the inventionresides in the combination proportion with the relatively small amountof i with the material of various colors. I water asrlater used in thisbinder a substance or Heretofore in fabricating articles or finelydiunusualhardness is secured. More than 40% of v 0 vided fibrousmaterial, it has been customary to dry biohromate of potassium can notbe succes- 4U H l 2075768 OP. 1*! sift/l4 y r, it: n (Jul \Jll llUUlllCOMPOSITONS, Q1 QSS -:e c6o Ce U C QATING OR PLASTIC. 2 scrapes mleavesubstantial deposits of the chemicals in .dry form distributed throughthe dry finished product, these dry chemicals becomea' dry 111- it maybe found desirable in certain instances which should in no case do morethan render consistency.-

changed or varied for different efiects or results. The binder is addedin the same manner as is done in making the colored product without thegermicidals.

While the germicidals as above described are to be supplied wheneverpossible in dry form to unify the dry mixture with a small quantity ofammonium hydroxide or similar substance the mass soft and pliable and ofa slightly lumpy tegral part of the finished product and the whole 7product retains its effectiveness for killing super that will kill mouthbacteria that may come in ficial bacteria for a long period or time.contact with itsjsurface, the following data is The mixing of thecoloring matter with the set forth: glue is preferably carriedcutibyiamixing colorpzf with water in theproportions of about one partTo illustrate how a completed product is made Per cent of color to 18parts by weight of water andf hams mit're1 7o Color 5.5 20 into thecolored solutionthus produced, adding Carbolic crystals 2 2 $1116 a'shefein expiaineee- Into the'"'gli1e pot the Parafo'r'rrra1diryde ii; i 2r amouiit' of emoreaeawr is poured for lodofo'rm powder '.5 theoiiantityto be' rnixed, -about 90-parts by Glue 12 weight of the coloredw'aiter'to 100 parts of the Bioh'roinate-o potassium iu; i;; 8 remain,when the-desired-percentages in' the Y h 2 product colored are 70% byweight colored fiber 7 100 s f f thehusnry er tinder his;

tmez sia d h s: i ntestate etweeirweehmrea *g'iirearid? thebrkillihgsuperficialfbacteiia .th' renewing cherish tioiis are'us'edto'that eh'dLTThe 'rcentages are based, uponthe use of thIbe'stM slightvariations "may 'be madeflto compensate for small variations in thequality and strength 01 the various ingredients used. a I

The germicidals are prepared separately. The are to be secured wheneverpossible in dry form. The crystals are ground, mixed with the pow-gdered germicidals, making a-separate total assemblage of thegermicidals. The ground total assemblage of g'ermicidals is thoroughlymixed into the dry fibers so as to have a mass of fibers and chemicals.When -a colored finished prodnot is required, the chemicals are mixedinto, the colored fiber so as to have a mass of fibers, color andchemicals. These germicidals may be prises 62' -upttf El of the weightof the above ingredients making the weight oi the completed product withthe-"water content Rim/ the water being'-at its 237 /18? /z'% oftheftotal 'weigi'it before the product is pressed e ergpbtg i j gqijfdtiiiit mixthem'witlrrlpowdered.igermicidals in ayessel; u g npg-reranyeiy stnn ma s; w 'rhbroug'myi mix'fithe,carbohcigtphenoni.

fid'thehff'adyto chirlr... pressed into'i'bloks lor Assn oftlie "allamount of water used enters I" wat r content to be "added to the abovecomims; to *bejunderstood. that this is ois'tsubstance and even. atheavy r m ldj aq f ip t n ppreciable amotnrt of moisture m'erely'showing. a l shttt sfbnt e.moldsin'fa 'j frhe procedure in "completingthe productisasl .Qt) -eiadi e amounrof that; if first; and

de'rhpietelydiy'imixtur (the eventiammonium hyfdroxid'TiSQfi'sd o unifyfthei mass as above stifbfth'fth willbe .'a soft pliable slightly lfpyiiiassias'has" been stated. I71? .1] ."(clMi'x' the above "massthoroughly into the fiber-.5

, odoform, i forming .;'ar the -,fibrous;material v as..a glue solutionmade 5 relatively dens by the 'relatively large proportiohs ofbichromateofpotas'sium the fibrous and germicidal .materials do not at any timebecome wt endu'ghtoadvers'ly afiect the germ-killing properties of therelatively dry germicidals. The

bichromateof potassium shown in the tabulation as 8% is of the drybinder ingredients or-in; the ratio of 40% of bichrornate to of dryglue, making 100% of dry binder ingredients.

The method of preparing various articles has already been indicated inpart. Thus, where a very finely grained product is desired with greathardness, vegetable or equivalent fiber of the finest flour-grinding isused and the amount of H binder used therewith is varied from by weightof fiber to 20% by weight of binder, to 50% by weight of fiber and 50%by weight of binder, according to the strength and weight of thefinished article. If such finished article is 7 to be screw-driverhandle, or the like, the proportions used would be from 30% by weight to50% by weight of fiber and from 70% by weight to 50% by weight ofbinder. Where, however, the article was intended for use as a tray orreceptacle which would be subjected to practically no strains, theproportions first named would be utilized. The material of the finenessreferred to would be placed in a receptacle and the binde would beprepared in a separate receptaclamleTgelxueybeing melted in water to thedesired consis and 40% by weight of dry bichromate of potassium added to60% by weight of dry glue until the binder becomes thoroughlyintermixed. As stated above the percentages mentioned are percentages byweight of the dry content of the binder exclusive of the water content.The binder would then be poured into the receptacle containing thefinely divided fiber and the mass would be thoroughly intermixed untilit assumed a light spongy consistency. It

is then placed into molds and subjected to pressure, using a hydraulicpress, if desired, until a finished product of the desired characterwould be produced. As stated, if coloring matter was to be added, itwould be added both to the vegetable or like fiber and to the binder.The germicidal ingredients are added to the mass of fibrous material indry form thus leaving deposits of said ingredients in dry form entrappedwithin or intermingled with the fibrous material and intimately heldtogether as a hardened product by said binder.

' Other modes of applying the principle of my 5 invention may beemployed. instead of the one explained, change being made as regards thematerials employed, provided the ingredients stated by any of thefollowing claims or the equivalent of such stated ingredients beemployed.

lthereroreparticularly point out and distinctly claim as my-inventionz',I I

1. ,A methodof formingarticles with elements having germicidal:characteristicsefiective upon superficial bacteria as .well as actingas a preservative for the binder, which includes the steps of vinter-mixing dry water-soluble germicidal elements into dry fibers as acold process, separately mixing animal glue with water and bichromate ofpotassium to form a stringy mass, adding such stringy mass as a binderto the mixture of germicidal elements andfibers and mechanically mixingthe same while substantially dry into a plastic mass, and pressing saidmass into the desired -iorm of article. 1

,2. A finished composition of matter including filler substance of a.fibrous character, a binder of glue with hardening and incorporatedpreservative germicidal. matter intermixed therewith engaged about saidfibrous filler substance, and additional water-soluble germicidalingredients independent of said germicidal matter incorporated in saidbinder entrapped between said fibrous filler substance and said binderelements in dry form and present as unmodified individual activeuncombined solid particles of said germicidal elements distributedthroughout the mass and on every exposed surface of said composition andserving to kill superficial bacteria.

3. A finished composition of matter including filler substance of afibrous character, a binder of glue with bichromate of potassiumintermixed therewith and having a hardening and preservative germicidalaction engaged about said fibrous filler substance, and additionalgermicidal ingredients comprising portions of carbolic crystals,paraformaldehyde powder, and iodoiorm powder entrapped as unmodifiedindividual active uncombined solid particles of dry germicidal elementsdistributed throughout the mass and on every exposed surface of saidcomposition and serving to kill superficial bacteria.

4. A commingled, compressed, bonded together, dry and hardened,substantially non-frangible composition of matter comprising finelydivided fibrous material, water soluble germicidal matter in dry state,and a binder engaged upon the particles of said fibrous material andbonded to said dry germicidal matter, the binder and fibrous materialforming a relatively hard non-frangible mass with the particles ofgermicidal material distributed therethrough, the said dry germicidalmatter being in such state of distribution throughout the compressed,dry and hardened, non-frangible mass and being included in an amountwhereby to germicidally act independently of germicidal matter in thebinder and in an amount whereby to kill superficial bacteria positionedupon any exposed surface of the com-. pressed, dry and hardened,non-frangible mass.

m 5. A method of mixing together a body of finely divided fibrousmaterial, a body of water-soluble germicidal matter in undissolved stateselected i from the group consisting of carbolic crystals,paraformaldehyde powder, iodoform powder and mixtures thereof and abinder from the group consisting of animal glue, ea in glue andsodium... Qligaieigr bm ng toge r said fi rous material I and saidundissolved 'cidalmatter, pressing the total mixture into a'trdeslredphysical form and allowing the mass to dry and harden, the binder in thefreshly mixed mass being in an amount and state of liquidity anddistribution causing the freshly mixed mass to be of a light, spongyconsistency, the said binder and said pressure being in amounts formingthe mass into a. hard and substantially non-frangible composition whensaid composition is dry and hardened, the said germicidal matter in theundissolved state being included in an amount within the freshly mixed,light, spongy mass and remaining in an undissolved state as independent,chemically unmodified, dry germicidal matter within and distributedthroughout the mass when the mass is dry and hardened and in an amountwhereby to germicidally act independently of germicidal matter in thebinder and in an amount and state of distribution whereby to killsuperficial bacteria positioned upon any exposed surface of the masswhen said mass is dried and hardened.

' STEVEN WILSON.

